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Atticus Finch’s Closing Argument

This post will focus on Atticus Finch’s closing argument in Tom Robinson’s trial. Watch the clip from the film adaptation and read the transcript of his speech. This will be helpful to those of you who are studying the novel and/or preparing for your Oral Presentations.

In ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Atticus Finch sets a standard of morality that no other character in the book comes close to matching. Atticus is a stable and mature figure who is able to cope with the unreasonable and highly emotional elements of Maycomb. He is one of the few people, in the town of Maycomb, who understand the the individual worth of a persons regardless of the colour of their skin.

Atticus was assigned to Tom Robinson’s case and although he knows that the case will be unfair and he will lose he does all he can to win justice. He is the only lawyer that is able to put some doubt in the minds of the jury.

The actor Gregory Peck, who played Atticus in the film was a civil rights activist and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom award. Peck favoured the role of Atticus over all his other roles and he had this to say about his performance:

“I put everything I had into it – all my feelings and everything I’d learned in 46 years of living, about family life and fathers and children. And my feelings about racial justice and inequality and opportunity”.

Author Harper Lee loved his portrayal of Finch and said of it: “In that film, the man and the part met.”

Atticus Finch delivers his Closing Argument at the Trial of Tom Robinson

Atticus: To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. The State has not produced one iota of medical evidence that the crime Tom Robinson is charged with ever took place. It has relied instead upon the testimony of two witnesses whose evidence has not only been called into serious question on cross examination, but has been flatly contradicted by the defendant. Now there is circumstantial evidence to indicate that Mayella Ewell was beaten savagely by someone who led, almost exclusively, with his left. And Tom Robinson now sits before you, having taken “The Oath” with the only good hand he possesses – his right.

I have nothing but pity in my heart for the Chief Witness for the State. She is the victim of cruel poverty and ignorance. But, my pity does not extend so far as to her putting a man’s life at stake, which she has done in an effort to get rid of her own guilt. Now I say “guilt,” gentlemen, because it was guilt that motivated her. She’s committed no crime. She has merely broken a rigid and time-honoured code of our society, a code so severe that whoever breaks it is hounded from our midst as unfit to live with. She must destroy the evidence of her offense. But, what was the evidence of her offense? Tom Robinson, a human being. She must put Tom Robinson away from her. Tom Robinson was to her a daily reminder of what she did.

Now what did she do? She tempted a negro. She was white and she tempted a negro. She did something that in our society is unspeakable: She kissed a black man. Not an old uncle, but a strong, young negro man. No code mattered to her before she broke it, but it came crashing down on her afterwards.

The witnesses for the State, with the exception of the sheriff of Lincoln County, have presented themselves to you gentlemen – to this Court – in the cynical confidence that their testimony would not be doubted; confident that you gentlemen would go along with them on the assumption, the evil assumption, that all negroes lie; all negroes are basically immoral beings; all negro men are not to be trusted around our women, an assumption that one associates with minds of their calibre, and which is in itself, gentlemen, a lie – which I do not need to point out to you.

And so, a quiet, humble, respectable negro, who has had the unmitigated TEMERITY to feel sorry for a white woman, has had to put his word against two white peoples. The defendant is not guilty. But somebody in this courtroom is.

Now, gentlemen, in this country our courts are the great levelers. In our courts, all men are created equal. I’m no idealist to believe firmly in the integrity of our courts and of our jury system. That’s no ideal to me. That is a living, working reality!

Now I am confident that you gentlemen will review without passion the evidence that you have heard, come to a decision, and restore this man to his family.

In the name of God, do your duty. In the name of God, believe Tom Robinson.

Why are americans so blind to what is good for them? What is worse is that American electorate elects the next leader of the free world. They have to elect one, with superior intellect and outstanding moral fibre. The choice in this election are so clear. It just baffles me to see the amount of racism in the states. Obama is trans racial.

It is far easier to be compelling with righteous anger and noble sentiments when you advocate for another human being. There is no stench of arrogance or self interest in such an appeal. It is a much different thing to ask people to give you power. Such anger must be more nuanced. What are examples where an individual advocated for himself with greatness? Where is Shakespeare when you need him? It is a very rare and difficult thing indeed to compel people through self righteous expressions of anger to give you power. Greatness always has to do with advocacy for the other and the whole, not for the self. I believe Barack understands this at a very deep level. CB

It is fitting that on this day we should be reminded that intolerance has no place in a free society. Bigotry should be vigorously challenged and named for what it is. Racism, thinly disguised as politics, should be denounced as totally unacceptable by all.

I was thinking of another Finch (Peter) who in the brilliant movie “Network” demonstrated certifiable rage: “I’m mad as hell and I won’t take it any more!” Repeat after me, Barack and America: “I’m mad as hell and I won’t take it any more!”